Hay-fork



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JOHN MUELLER, OF LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA.

HAYHFORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,527, dated October 18, 1898.

Application filed November 12, 1897. Serial No. 658,316. (No model.)

To al?, whom, maycotcernf Be it known that I, JOHN MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in

the county of Ransom and State of North Dain this connection it is to be understood that the invention is equally well adapted for de-` tachably connecting any style of implement or tool to an operating handle or pole,where by one handle can be used interchangeably with A a number of different implements.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is'to be had to the accompanying drawings andthe following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacricing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full discloure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of allay-fork, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a Adetail perspective view of the fork and handle separated. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the fastening. Fig. 4 is a transverse section about on the line X X of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, showing the parts on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The hay-fork l is typical of the variety of implements for which the invention is designed andis provided with a tang 2 of tapering form and wedge-shaped in cross-section, said tang being constructed to interlock with the handle 3, and for this purpose having its inner end expanded, as shown at 4, to fit snugly within a corresponding recess 5 of the handle. A groove or channel 6 is formed in a side of the handle to snugly receive the tang 2 and is of V form in cross-section.

A ring 7 is formed with an offset or loop portion 8, upon which is fulcrumed a camlever 9 to bear against the tang 2 and hold it in its seat or groove 6. This ring is of' a size to fit snugly upon the end portion of the handle 3, and the tang is forced into its groove or seat 6 by operating the cam-lever, as will be readily understood. The fulcrum of the camlever comes directly opposite the active or bearing end or between said end and the extremity of the lever, whereby the latter is self-locking when its free end is brought against the side of the handle,"thereby preventing accidental loosening of the fastening when properly applied. The ring, with the offset or loop portion 8, is made in one piece, and the cam-lever is fulcrumed upon the outer portion of the offset or loop 8 in any manner found most convenient, and, as shown, it is provided with a pair of lips 10, which are bent to encircle the part of the ring upon which the cam-lever is fulcrumed.

In some cases it is preferred to have the expanded terminal 4 of the tang notched, as at 4a, so as to receive a screw or like headed fastening ll, applied to the handle to assist materially in holding the implement in place and admitting of its easy removal from the handle when required. By having the tang and its seat of wedge form the parts engage frictionally when forcedtogether by means of the fastening, thereby preventingY any play or looseness of the implement. Should the handle shrink, the ring can be loosened by moving the free end of the cam-lever away from the handle, and after the ring has been moved upon the handle, so as to prevent any looseness, the parts are secured by bringing the free end of the cam-lever against the handle, as indicated in Fig. l. In this connec tion it must be remembered that the lower end of the handle is given a slight taper in the ordinary manner, thereby providing for tightening the ring by moving'it upon the lower end of the handle away from the fork or implement.

y The tang maybe applied to any side of the handle, and the lever 9 will be disposed in any position most convenient, according to the style of implement and kind of handle, so as IOO to be out of the Way. The side members of the loop are strengthened by webs l2 between them and the adjacent portions of the ring.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. The combination with a handle having a longitudinal groove in its side, and having a recess intersecting with the groove, of a hayfork or like implementhavinga tang to snugly fit Within the said longitudinal groove and having an expanded portion to interlock with the recess and prevent longitudinal movement of the tang, and means encirclingthe tang and handle to secure the tang in its seat, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a handle having` a longitudinal groove in its side, and having a recess intersecting with the groove, and a headed fastening applied to the recess, of a hay-fork or like implement having a tang to snugly fit within said longitudinal groove and having an expanded portion to interlock with the recess and formed with a notch to receive the headed fastening and prevent outward and longitudinal movement of the tang, and means encircling the tang and handle to secure the tang in its seat, substantially as specified.

3. In combination, a hay-fork or like implement having a tang of Wedge form and its inner end expanded, a handle having a groove or seat in its side to snugly receive the tang and provided with a recess for the reception of the expanded end portion of the said tang, a ring encircling the tang and handle and having an offset or loop portion, and a camlever mounted upon the offset or loop portion of the ring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MUELLER.

lVitnesses z ALBERT O. SAXLUND, WM. K. SMITH. 

